Bernie Sanders Unveils A 12 Point Economic Plan To Break The Koch Oligarchs (cross-posted from GD)

[sabrina 1]

This sounds like a populist platform:

Bernie Sanders Unveils A 12 Point Economic Plan To Break The Koch Oligarchs

Sanders detailed a 12-point economic program to,

- Invest in our crumbling infrastructure with a major program to create jobs by rebuilding roads, bridges, water systems, waste water plants, airports, railroads and schools.

– Transform energy systems away from fossil fuels to create jobs while beginning to reverse global warming and make the planet habitable for future generations.

– Develop new economic models to support workers in the United States instead of giving tax breaks to corporations which ship jobs to low-wage countries overseas.

– Make it easier for workers to join unions and bargain for higher wages and benefits.

– Raise the federal minimum wage from $7.25 an hour so no one who works 40 hours a week will live in poverty.

– Provide equal pay for women workers who now make 78 percent of what male counterparts make.

– Reform trade policies that have shuttered more than 60,000 factories and cost more than 4.9 million decent-paying manufacturing jobs.

– Make college affordable and provide affordable child care to restore America’s competitive edge compared to other nations.

– Break up big banks. The six largest banks now have assets equivalent to 61 percent of our gross domestic product, over $9.8 trillion. They underwrite more than half the mortgages in the country and issue more than two-thirds of all credit cards.

– Join the rest of the industrialized world with a Medicare-for-all health care system that provides better care at less cost.

– Expand Social Security, Medicare, Medicaid and nutrition programs.

– Reform the tax code based on wage earners’ ability to pay and eliminate loopholes that let profitable corporations stash profits overseas and pay no U.S. federal income taxes.

I don't see anything there that any Democrat could disagree with.

[Faux pas]

1. Kickin'

[Enthusiast]

2. Kicked and recommended a whole bunch!

[tk2kewl]

3. commonsense has become radical

[BrotherIvan]

4. I don't disagree with it

There's something for everyone, except the rich, who will be the ones who fight it tooth and nail.

[sabrina 1]

5. They will, but when it comes down to it, there are far more of us than of them. So how do they get

that kind of power? They do have enablers, many of them people we elected. So, imo, that is what should be the #1 focus from now, to kick out the enablers and replace them with candidates like Bernie eg.

[BrotherIvan]

7. I think we have to convince everyone we know

I think that based on Bernie's platform, we should come up with easy, well, talking points to start educating. I almost want a postcard that I can hand out to interested people I talk to. I would be willing to chip in to help design it and pay for the printing (which if we made a lot, the cost of shipping would be more than the cards.) I think we should make our own grassroots movement to start before the billions of dollars gets thrown at this thing. The Clinton and Bush machines are already gearing up.

I, thankfully have a rather easy job as I don't know any Republicans. But even here on DU it is difficult to educate Democrats that what Bernie is talking about ARE Democratic values. They are in fact, the things we need to achieve in order to save the middle and lower class. That he is actually mapping out a vision for what this country needs and where it needs to go, something glaringly absent from the Obama administration.

I think it will be an uphill battle as politics has turned into personality & entertainment. Others are afraid to take a chance because the awful Republican might win. And I think young people in particular are rightly cynical about politics. They grew up getting screwed by indentured servitude to their student loans and low paying jobs at the end of it. They don't understand that this country was and can be different. They thought that Obama would change things, and they believed his promises, but things didn't change and now they're just berated for wanting a pony.

I'm not talking about converting Republicans, though there are some that might be. I'm talking about finally, at long last, benefiting the base. I don't have all the answers, but I am willing to help. I am leaving this country soon to live abroad, and looking forward to it, but it breaks my heart to see so many people suffer.

[sabrina 1]

8. That is a great post! It deserves an OP of its own so that people can perhaps, submit more ideas as

to how to implement some of the things you outlined.

I love the card idea. Things do need to be condensed so that people easily 'get' what the points are.

It will take time to undo the damage already done, but it isn't impossible.

Eg, if you don't mention party politics and just ask people about the issues, Progressive issues are very popular. There is a huge segment of the population that doesn't vote at all. Ideas on how to reach THEM would be worth talking about. Imagine if we had a candidate, chosen by the people and we get tap into that huge non-voting bloc to get him/her elected. We know the party leadership will always support the Third Way candidate over a Progressive. So it's up to us to find good candidates and help get them elected.

Great post, you really should think about turning it into an OP.

[BrotherIvan]

9. Thank you, that means a lot

I might do it as an OP when I have a bit more time to participate. But hopefully it is something we can talk about as the group who wants reform. What can we do every day to work toward the change we want? I think that is educating people in our general circle. Some of us are part of active groups that are political or environmental or charity. Others can influence those they interact with in other online forums. Or family and friends. But what we can't assume is that anyone knows about this platform or Sanders. Because they don't. And the MSM won't tell them until it's time to take him down. So now is the perfect time to start talking.

The great part is, you don't have to lie. You only have to tell the truth. As you said, people want progressive policies, they just don't know it. You don't even have to talk about Bernie as a candidate to begin with if you don't want to. Just talk about the issues, because he is on the right side of them.

OFA had meet ups or teas to promote candidate Obama and his ideas. We could take the same approach but more informally, every day. And by coming back and sharing what worked and what didn't, we can improve and hone our skills. There have been many posts where someone said, "I won an argument with my rw cousin at Thanksgiving." I know liberals often do argue and share ideas, but maybe we can become even more effective than that. Putting the information or links to information in one place. How to get people engaged. How to make it feel natural and not like proselytizing. Though at this point, I'm not above that.

I would say, rule #1, do not engage tea partiers or right wingers. We don't need to convince them as they are too far gone and it takes away your energy. But, as you said, all those who are disaffected or who never vote or who no longer vote, those are the people you want. The uniformed, those who might just vote for the third way candidate backed by the party (I have lots of those). I believe the R candidate will be Jeb, in fact I will put money on it. That helps and hurts because he is so goddamned scary--like envisioning the apocalypse--that people will cower and support whomever they think can beat that anti-Christ. And I understand. But that is all part of the .01% plan.

I think the best approach is a salesman technique: what's in it for them. Find their most important issue, whether it be their children's education or future, or the environment, or wanting a better job. Talk to them in their language, about how Democratic/progressive policies will benefit them personally. Give them something to vote FOR.

Sanders has a very active webpage and newsletter (unlike my so-called liberal senator who is just a place holder) which I receive. He is always at the top of the DU greatest page with an amazing quote. It seems like he is always introducing a bill, trying to get something done. There is tons of information there, easy to disseminate. Also, talking about his record. Posting some of his Senate floor speeches, or appearances on the news. He is always educating, always truth-telling. If they fall in love with his ideas, they might overlook the word "socialist" or they might find that socialism is probably what we need. And people's grasp of history, most especially the labor movement is very bad, so there is lots of room there.

Like I said, I don't have all the answers. But it is time to start getting organized and moving. I hope that that is what this group is about. I came here because I was tired of arguing with the BOrG. I'm tired of just being outraged about all the issues or feeling betrayed. I would like to work. I would like to give what little time I have to do something. I think we should try.

[sabrina 1]

10. Another excellent post filled with great suggestions. I agree we can all talk to people we know,

which I do now. I know many of the people I know are probably either non-voters or Republicans, and of course many are Dems. But we don't talk about party politics so I'm not sure. But I do know you CAN talk about issues, and we do. I rarely see people argue eg, that we 'ought to end SS'. The reason is, all of them have elderly relatives in their families who depend on it for survival. I have no heard anyone say 'let's get rid of Medicare' either. For the same reasons.

Which is why these two programs are the most popular Govt programs across political lines. So why are Dems not talking like Bernie? They should be PROUD to do so.

So we can tell people 'did you know that if this guy (fill in the blank) wins the election he's going to cut SS and Medicare, but THIS GUY is interesting etc etc.

The nationwide meetings we had in 2008 were very effective so that can be done again. I will support Bernie whether he changes parties or not. And I doubt I am the only one. I care far more about the issues than about loyalty to any party who isn't as concerned as the people are. Did that already.

If you don't have time to post an OP and if I get some time, would you mind if I used some of your suggestions, linking to your posts?

Identifying the problems in the Party, then figuring out strategies to attack those problems, finding candidates that WE want not who the Party gives us whether we like them or not, and supporting them, all are important things for this group to discuss imo.

[BrotherIvan]

11. Absolutely

I am leaving town until after Christmas, so I wish I could post my own thread, but don't want to do a hit and run. I have only done one OP because that's not really my thing. But I would love to talk about it and come up with ideas.

I was thinking about good ways to approach people and let them feel like they're not being blindsided or roll their eyes because they don't want to get into politics. Like you said, party politics. I live in CA and except for the pockets of red, it's sort of strange if someone is a Republican, so that for me isn't a problem But I do think that people are so busy, they may not know about these things and just vote D if they vote at all. That's why we have DiFi and Boxer, sigh.

I still like the card thing. I wish it could be business card sized or accordion folded so it could fit in your pocket or purse. Accordion is more expensive to produce but it might be something that didn't feel like you want to throw it away immediately. But I do think the face to face interaction is the most meaningful. Though I am sure others might be more successful with social media. Maybe someone will come up with a better idea.

Like you said, let's talk about issues. Let's talk about how we think we can really change the course of this country in real terms. It might not be everything all at once, but the big things. Maybe it's as simple as starting with campaign finance reform. I was daydreaming today of Sanders publicly announcing he would take public financing and every other candidate being shamed to do the same, the anti-Norquist vos. The MSM would never go for it because they are the main benefactors of out of control spending, but if voters openly demanded it--because I think both left and right are sick of the money in politics--that might be a thing. It might be a way to open the door to other discussions with people to explain why Citizen's United is bad and what it is doing to our government. I know even people on DU don't get it. But it is becoming a very widely approved sentiment. And guess who's being the most vocal about it? The Senator from Vermont.

[BrotherIvan]

12. I also would make a card with this graphic

It is eye opening to many people I talk about it with. Not everyone knows this and it is a great conversation starter. I should make a T-shirt of it. I think this one graphic could wake people up. And then put on the back pie charts from other countries and see why they are getting more for their tax dollars.

[sabrina 1]

13. That is a fantastic idea. Putting that graph on t-shirt, on a card! In colleges, everywhere. That

says it all in nutshell.

Got to run for now, but you have given me a lot to think about.

Btw, I did ask if I wrote an OP if you mind if I linked to your posts here, not sure if you said yes or no, or if you wanted to me to send it to you first.

[BrotherIvan]

14. Take it and run with it. Post away

I will be flying Tuesday but will check at least once a day. I'm going to a lovely but cold socialist & civilized country that people say is the happiest on earth to visit family. Lucky me!

I just looked it up and a 4"x4" postcard is very affordable. I would be happy to send it if there were enough takers and people really wanted it and could cover the shipping. Keep thinking, maybe we can start people talking.

Keep me posted as I would love to help.

[BrotherIvan]

15. I quite literally did this in five minutes

But just an idea to kick around. Didn't fill in the other pie piece numbers. But I'm sure people here will come up with great ideas.

[sabrina 1]

21. I just like the idea that it is a quick picture of how things really are

that can be put on a t-shirt, on cards, on posters all over the country etc.

Long explanations don't work, but something the public can see and absorb quickly works.

[jeepers]

17. "there are far more of us than of them"

I admire your reasoning and your spirit Sabrina but the Walton family of Walmart infamy has as much money as 42% of the American populace. Do you think overwhelming numbers matter against all that money and power?

There are five hundred and thirty five legislators in congress, if the Koch brothers gave each legislator ten million dollars (about 5% of their combined wealth) do you doubt that they would own the government and that 40 million voters could go eat cat food?

Those 535 legislators I mentioned just now are all the power we have short of a mass uprising or an armed revolt and then their protective services, the police, and history tells us the US military, will have you out gunned and surrounded before they start shooting.

Your more of us than them means nothing in an authoritarian society. Now if you had a direct democracy where everyone all three hundred million of us had the vote your more of us than them would mean something.

As to kicking out the enablers. It is not the what but the how. How is this group or any other group going to get all those wonderful ideas that Senator Sanders talks about through congress. Try to remember there is nothing in the US Constitution that gives any president the power to care for much less act for the general welfare of the nations citizens. If he acts Sanders will face a constitutional battle every inch of the way. It will be Sanders against the 535 and all their resources, and then there are the supremes. Why do you think Roosevelt tried to stack the court all those years ago?

In conclusion, America is working just as it was intended to work. If their is a systemic flaw it is that America was not designed to be a socialist government. If you think the country should act with more social conscience, which I do, we will have to change the constitution. That would require a grass roots movement, initiative petitions in all fifty states and in some towns and a national conversation on what we want our country to stand for, but in my thinking we are still a few generations away from that point if we don't fall into tyranny first.

[sabrina 1]

18. I can't argue with anything you said regarding how things are.

One thing though, there is nothing in the Constitution that says 'money talks' either, yet THEY managed to get a SC ruling making that the law.

You have to hand it to them, they are COMMITTED, they don't take 'no' for an answer. When they fail, even if it's for years, they never give up. They keep coming back. The form Think Tanks and work at the local levels to build up their 'armies'.

The people are generally apathic until things get so bad they finally realize that something is wrong.

So how do we get the people to be as committed to maintaining a democracy as they are to destroying it?

It would probably take decades to educate people as to what is really going on.

But I am encouraged to be honest, that a whole lot more people ARE educated now than were eg, even a decade ago.

The most relevant question is how we get Representatives into Congress that are not part of oligarchy, not funded and beholden to them.

I think the focus should be there. How to run candidates that CAN defeat the money.

I don't know the answers, but have we really worked on that? Mostly we give in and end up voting for their choices of the 'lesser evil'.

First step, imo, to send the message 'we will not vote for the 'lesser evil' anymore. Rather than the mealy mouthed 'well I don't like (fill in the blank) but if s/he wins the nomination, I will vote for my party'. THAT is all they need. How about starting there and delivering a different message to them?

[jeepers]

19. You can defeat the money

Last edited Wed Dec 10, 2014, 11:29 PM - Edit history (1)

By redefining the role of representatives and senators in a new constitution. There are two meanings attached to the word represent. I can represent you at the meeting and vote for you or I can represent to you how the meeting went and let you vote. I would give elected representatives the power to pry into the nations business to monitor it and report back to me, the citizen, with recommendations, solutions or proposals but I want the final vote. I don't want some senator trying to figure out how to make his fortune selling my vote. The former is plutocracy open to corruption, the latter is democracy and requires participation.

I believe that we have already decided that democracy is the solution.

The only sure fire way of getting the electorate involved in maintaining this democracy is self interest. People need to be able to vote on economic policy and on any issue that affects their lives and fortunes. Not to get off tack but all city state and federal policy decisions should be open to a citizen referendum. Voting should be a regular affair and even a celebration in any democracy.
When I say A new constitution I mean that as difficult as it may seem the American people need to stand up and take control of their government, to abolish that government if necessary. and to shape a new government that meets their needs. I suggest we do it through petition and ballot now as opposed to waiting for the need of pitchforks and barricades.

[Zorra]

6. It's not really even optional. It's critical for survival. nt

[demwing]

16. Pin of the Week

great post Sabrina 1, we'll keep it pinned for a week!

[sabrina 1]

20. Hi Demwing, thank you. Some of the comments in this thread are

very interesting imo. I am trying to find time to work them into an OP.